Great War puts vocation on hold

December 6, 2017

MUNCY - Like many a small town young man, Earnest Emerson Arthur went off to the big city to learn an occupation. The big city was Williamsport where he would learn the tailor trade in the employ of clothier Morgan & Sons.

Arthur would measure, stitch and sew when hemming sleeves and trousers for clients. His work area would be located at the rear of the store near fitting rooms.

The home away from home for the Muncy native was the Elks Club where he rented sleeping quarters. He would retain a life-long membership in the club.

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Earnest Emerson Arthur of WWI later opened a tailor shop in downtown Muncy.

For the U.S., World War I had been in effect more than 15 months when Arthur was drafted. It was June 25, 1918 when he was assigned to the Army and reported to Camp Lee, VA.

In a short time, Arthur rose to the rank of Sergeant, a three strip Buck Sergeant, according to son James Arthur currently of Muncy.

The war's ending was less than six months away, and so the recruit would remain stateside and be discharged four days before Christmas in 1918.

Back home, the veteran opened a tailor shop in his native Muncy. Many of his customers were employed at Sprout-Waldron. Oddly enough, the shop's South Main Street location is the present site of the town's war memorial after the building was destroyed by fire.

His only child, a son, James D. Arthur, would be caught up in WWII and Korea, serving in the Navy as a Sea Bee.

Earnest Arthur, 1890 - 1956, was a son of Robert and Mary C. (Dimm) Arthur. His wife Dora preceded him in death and both are interred in Muncy cemetery.